Unloading apparatus



June 7, 1966 E. G. TABOR 3,254,779

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA US June 7, 1966 E. G. TABOR UNLOADING APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11. 1963 ATTORNEYS June 7, 1966 E. G. TABOR3,254,779

UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 NVENTORATTORNEYS Filed Oct. 11, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 17,734 6 7/5 a H/Wyw ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,254,779 UNLOADING APPARATUSEar-l G. Tabor, Bluetield, W. Va., assignor to Tabor Machine Shop, Inc.,Bluefield, W. Va., a corperation of West Virginia Filed Oct. 11, 1963,Ser. No. 315,514 6 Claims. (Cl. 214-64,2)

This invention relates generally to a novel unloading apparatus and,more particularly, to a vibratory apparatus for -the unloading offlowable solids such as coal, ore, grains or chemicals and the like fromreceptacles used to transfer and carry such flowable solids.

Frequently the transportation and storage of flowable solids such ascoal and similar materials is best accomplished by the use of generallyrectanguar receptacles which have a relatively great horizontal extentand a relatively limited vertical extent or height.

Such dimensional limitations are generally dictated by the limited spaceavailable in the operating environment. For example, in the mining ofcoal, particularly where the coal seam being worked has a relativelylimited vertical extent, vertical working space or headroom is at apremium since it is kept to a minimum 'in order to limit unproductiveexcavation beyond the extent of the coal deposit. Typically in such coalmining operations, the coal removed from the seam is loaded into a minecar which is used to transport it to another location in the mine whereit is unloaded onto a suitable conveyor means which, in turn, transports .the coal for further processing. Because of the limited Workingspace, particularly vertical working space or headroom, available suchmine cars are generally of an elongated rectangular shape having arelatively great longitudinal horizontal extent to provide a-dequatecarrying capacity and a relatively limited vertical extent or height. Inthe past, the unloading of mine cars having such dimensionalcharacteristics has presented considerable difliculties. It has been*the practice to utilize an unloading device which would tip the carupon one end in 'order to unload or efect the discharge of the contentsat the desired location in the mine. In order to employ such unloadingdevices, it has been necessary to provide additional headroom not onlyfor the unloading device itself but to provide adequate clearance forthe required movement of the car as it is tipped to discharge the loadof coal. Such mine cars commonly are about 10 to 12 feet or more inlength while normally the headroom, that is the vertical distancebetween the floor and overhead surface available in the mine shaft, isgenerally only about 4 feet or less. Thus, the expenditure ofconsiderable effort and capital has been necessary to provide anadditional overhead clearance of over 8 to 10 feet -in order to permitthe mine car to be tipped upon one end. Furthermore, the removal of theoverlying earth generally requires the provision of additional expensivebracing or support means. In addition, the apparatus employed to eifectthe t-ipping or dumping of such loaded mine cars was of a relativelycomplex and cumbersome construction and was not readily transportablefrom one location ot another wit-hin the mine. Because of the 'spacelimitations Within such mines, the relocation of such prior artdischarge devices frequently entailed disassembly and subsequentreassembly of the device after movement to the desired new location.

Accordingly, a principal Object-of the present invention relates to anovel, readily p-ortable apparatus for unloading receptacles such asmine cars carrying flowable solid material while maintaining thereceptacle in substantially horizontal position.

A further Object of this invention relates to a novel apparatus forunloading mine cars employed to carry coal to various locations in themine while maintaining the Paterted June 7, 1966 ICC mine car in ahorizontal position and thus eliminating the need for providingadditional working space within the mine for the car unloadingopera-tion.

An additional Object of the present invention relates to a novelapparatus for effecting the conveyance of a solid flowable materialcarried in a suitable receptacle from such receptacle.

A still further ob-ject of the present invention relates to a novelvibratory discharge apparatus for imparting vibratory motion to a minecar or other receptacle carrying solid flowable material so that suchmaterial is conveyed along the receptacle and discharged therefrom.

Another object of the present invention relates to a novel apparatus foretfecting the unloading of receptacles such as mine cars carrying solidfiowable materials which apparatus is of a simple, rugged constructionand at the same time can be readily moved to different desired operatinglocations Within the mine.

Other objects and the entire scope of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description and by reference :tothe accompanying drawings. -It should be understood, however, that thedetailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferredembodiments of the invention, are given by Way of illustration only,since various changes and modifi-cations will become apparent as thedescription herein progresses. Reference now being made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof,

FIGURE 1 is a erspective View with parts broken away of my novelunloading apparatus with a receptacle opera-tively positioned therein;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view with parts broken away of my novelunloading apparatus with a receptacle operatively positioned therein;-

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of my novel unloading apparatus with 'areceptacle operatively positioned therein; and

FIGURE 4 is another side elevational view of my novel unloadingapparatus.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 10generally indicates my novel unloading or vibratory discharge apparatus.The vibratory discharge apparatus 10 generally comprises -a fixed frameassembly 12 and a live frame assembly 14, the latter beingspringsupported on the fixed frame assembly. The fixed frame 12includes, in the specific embodiment shown, a pair of longitudinallyextending laterally spaced generally parallel runner members or skids16, which are connected near their ends by transverse bars 13 either bywelds or other suitable means. The skid members 16 are adapted toslidingly engage the floor supporting surface and are preferablyprovided with vertically upturned end portions 20 which facilitate thesliding movement of the entire apparatus to desired locations in themine. Mounted on each of the skids 16 are longitudinally spaced pairs ofspring seats 22. Each spring seat 22 is provided with 'a pair ofupwardly extending longitudinally spaced spring -retaining bosses 24adapted to operatively receive and retain a pair of spiral supportingSprings 26. F

The live frame assembly 14 includes a horizontally disposed plate-likebottom member 28 and laterally spaced longitudinally extending generallyparallel plate-like side members 30 which define a car receiving space.The underside of bottom member 28 is preferably provided with aplurality of transversely extending longitudinally spaced stiffenermembers 32 for added structural rigid-ity. The upper surface of thebottom member 28 is provided with transversely spaced longitudinallyextending car receiving skids 34 which are adapted to operatively engageand rigidly support a mine car 36. Additional rigidity is provided thelive frame assembly 14 by means of longitu- ..a dinally spacedtransversely extending upper stifener members 38 which are connected tothe side members 30 at the upper edge portions thereof. A pair oflaterally extending sturdy pin members 40 are rigidly secured bysuitable means at longitudinally spaced points to the outer side of eachside member 30. Similar spring seating brackets 42 are operativelymounted on each pin member 40 in operative alignment with theaforementioned spring seats 22. The underside of each spring Seatingbracket 42 is provided with a pair of spring retaining bosses 44,complementary to the similar bosses 24 on the top of the correspondinglower spring seat member 22.

'Preferably a pair of shock absorbing retarder blocks 46 are providedintermediate the fixed frame assembly 12 and the live frame assembly 14at the discharge end of the apparatus 10. The retarder blocks 46, whichare preferably made of rubber or other suitably'resilient material,serve to cus hion or absorb the impact which generally occurs when aloaded mine car is operatively positioned in the live frame assembly.

The live frame assembly 14 is further provided with a suitable carclamping means, which in the embodiment illustrated comprises a pair oflever action clamping assemblies generally indicated by the numeral 48.Each clamping assembly 48 is operatively mounted on the inner surface ofeach of the opposed side members 30 for cooperation with the carreceiving skids 34 as will bemore fully described hereinafter. Sinceeach of the clamping assemblies are of substantially identicalconstruction, a detailed description of only one will be given. Theclamping assembly 48 includes an elongated car engagingmember 50 whichat one end is pivotally connected at 52 to the inner surface of the sidemember 30. The other end of the member 50 carries a vertical extension53 which carries a laterally extending pin means 54 which is pivotallyand slidably received by an elongated slot 56 provided in one end of thelever arm 58. The lever arm 58 is pivotally connected to the side member30 by a suitable pin connection 60. During entry of the mine car 36 intooperative position in the live frame assembly 14, the clamping deviceswill be in their inoperative positions with the car engaging members 50in their uppermost position, as best seen in FIGURE 2. Movement of thefree ends 62 of lever arms 58 upwardly will cause the car engagingmembers to pivot downwardly about pivotal connections 52 and clampinglyengage suitable abutment surfaces 64 provided on the mine car 36 whichwill be more fully described hereinafter.

Adjacent the discharge end of the apparatus 10, the live frame assembly14 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced inclned door lift members66. Each door lift member 66 preferably comprises an elongated channelmember which is inclned relative to the bottom member 28 and secured atone end to an upper stitfener member 38 and at the other end to thebottom member 28. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the door lift members 66will thus present upwardly inclned abutment surfaces 68 which areadapted to cooperate with and slidingly engage suitable lugs 70 carriedby the pivotal mine car door '72.

In order to facilitate movement of the mine car 36 to and from the liveframe assembly 14, an inclned ramp means 74 is provided at the entry endof the live frame assembly 14.

The vibratory drive assembly preferably includes a pair of vibratoryhead assemblies 76 operatively mounted on the 'side members 30 of thelive frame assembly 14. Each vibratory head assembly 76 includes a pairof spaced parallel shafts 78 which are journalled in suitable bearings(not shown) carried by the side members 30 and which are connected forsynchronized rotation in opposite directions by means of a suitabledrive sprocket chain 80 and idler sprocket assembly 82. The vibratoryhead assemblies 76 are operatively connected for synchronized rotationwith one another -by means of a transversely extending transmissionshaft '84 which is rotatably journalled in suitable bearings (not shown)carried by the side members 30.

Since rotation of the shafts 78 of one of the vibratory head assemblieswill *be transmitted to the other vibratory head assembly by thetransmission shaft 84, it is only necessary to drive one of thevibratory head assemblies by a suitable source of power, such as anelectric motor (not shown).

' As best 'seen in FIGURE 4, each shaft 78 is provided with' rigidlysecured eccentric weights 86, which, upon.

rotation of the shaft, will produce the vibration which is transmittedto the live frame assembly. In the embodiment illustrated, the weights86 are arranged on their associated shafts such that the direction ofeccentricity of the weights 86 from their associated shafts are inagreement only in two opposed positions which lie along a linepositioned at -an angle 'of about 45 to the substantially horizontalplane of the bottom 28 and extending upwardly toward the discharge endof the live frame assembly 14. The forces developed by the rotatingweights 86 therefore are additive and at a maximum value, only in thetwo opposite directions lying along the aforementioned 45 line. Thismaximum force condition will be developed in both directions along the-aforementioned 45 o line during each revolution of the shafts 78. Inother words, each revolution of the shafts 78 will produce one completevibration or oscillation of the live frame assembly 14. In theillustrated embodiment, the live frame will oscil'late or vibrate in astraight line path' which is inclned at an angle of approximately 45 oto the plane of the bottom 28, -as shown by the double arrow A-A inFIGURES 1 and 4. While a vibrating drive assembly which will impart astraight line vibration to the live frame has been illustrated, it willbe apparent to those skil'led in the art that other suitable paths ofvibratory movement may be imparted to the live frame assembly bywell-known modifications of the vibrating head assemblies.

The mine car 36 which generally comprises an elongated, generallyrectangularly shaped receptacle mounted on suitable wheels 88 having agenerally flat plate-like bottom member 90, a pair of. transverselyspaced vertically extending integral side walls 92 and at one end avertically extending integral end wall 94. The other end of the mine car36 is provided with a door 72 pivotally connected at 96 to each sidewall 92. The weight of the door 72 is sufficient to maintain the door inthe down or closed position and thereby normally provide a receptacleenclosed on all four sdes. As aforementioned, each side portion of thedoor 72 is provided with laterally outwardly extending lugs 70 adaptedto 'operatively engage the inclned door lift members 66 carried by thelive frame assembly 14. By virtue of this construction, and as best seenin FIGURE 2, the door 72 wi'll pivot upwardly t o open one end of themine car 36 and thereby permit discharge of its contents simply as aconsequence of operatively positioning the car 36 within the live frameassembly 14. v

Each side wall 92 of the mine car 36 is provided with a laterallyextending clamp receiving means 98 having upwardly facing 'abutmentsur'faces 64 adapted to be clampingly engaged by the car engagingmembers 50 of the clamping assemblies 48 when the car is operativelypositioned within the live frame assembly 14.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2 for a detailed -description of theoperation of the device, the car 36, loaded with coal or other flowablesolid material, is rolled up the ramp '74 and moved into the live frameassembly 14. As best seen in FIGURE 2, as the car 36 is moved into thelive frame assembly 14, the bottom of the car will slidingly engage theskids 34 causing the entire car to be raised bodily a slight amount soas to remove the weight of the car from the wheels and be rigdlysupported by the skids 34. As the car is moved further into the 'liveframe assembly 14, by being slid along the skids 34 so as to beoperatively positioned therein, the

lugs 70 on the car door 72 Will operatively engage the inclined abutmentsurfaces 68 of the door lift members 66 causing the door 72 to swingupwardly about pivotal 'Connections 94, thus opening the leading end ofthe car so as to permit discharge of the contents. When the car 36 isthus operatively positioned within the live frame assembly 14, as shownin 'FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the lever arm 58 of each car clamping assembly48 is moved upwardly causing their car engaging members 50 to be moveddownwardly and into operative clamping engagement with the abutmentsurfaces 64 of the clamp receiving means 98 carried by the car 36. Byvirtue of the cam-like linkage between the car engaging members 50 andtheir respective lever arms 58, the car engaging members `50 willremain' in rgid clamping engagement with the cooperating clamp receivingmeans 98. The car 36 will thus be seen to be rigidly and firmly held inengagement with the supporting skids 34 and will thus be effectivelyrestrained against movement relative to the live frame assembly 14.After the car has been thus rigidly clamped in operative position, thedrive motor is energized to rotate the shafts 78 of the vibratory headassemblies '76. 'Because of the eccentric arrangement of the Weights 86on the rotary shafts 78, the desired vibratory motion will be impartedto the live frame 'assembly 14 which is fioatably supported by theSprings 26. The car 36 being supported by and held in a relatively fixedposition on the live frame assembly 14 will move with the live frameassembly and the material within the car will be conveyedlongitudina'lly of the car and discharged therefrom in response to thevibrations of the car and live frame assembly. When the contents of thecar have been completely di-scharged, the drive motor is deenergized andwhen the vibratory head assemblies have come to rest, the lever arms 58are moved downwardly to effect disengagement of the car clamping members50 from the clamp receiving means 98. As the car is removed by -suitablemeans from the live frame assembly 14, the

door 72 will, by virtue of its own weight, pivot downwardly to return toits normally closed position.

Movement of the entire apparatus to various desired locations is.readily accomplished by simply attaching a suitable tractor means tothe fixed frame assembly 12 to efect sliding of the apparatus '10 uponthe skids 16.

While in the foregoing em-bodiment manually actuated clamping mean-shaving a particular mechanical linkage has been described, it will beapparent that the clamping means could be power actuated such as bysuitable electrical and/ or hydraulic means and that other mechanicalclamping arrangements can be employed. Similarly, while a pair ofvibratory head assemblies mounted on the sides of the live frameassembly has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent thatother vibratory drive arrangements can be employed.

It will thus be seen that .the objects of this invention have been fullyand effectively accomplished. It will be realized, h-owever, that theforegoing specific embodiments have been shown and described only forthe purpose of illustrating the p rinciples of this invention and aresubject to extensive change without departure from such principles.Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed withinthe spirit and scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for moving solid flowable material carried by a mobilematerial transporting receptacle having ground engaging wheels relativeto said receptacle and toward a discharge Opening provided at one end ofsaid receptacle so as to eifect the discharge of said material therefromwhile maintaining said receptacle substantially in its operativematerial transportng disposition` relative to the apparatus supportingsurface comprising in combination: a fixed frame a vibratory frame, saidvibratory frame being adapted to receive a receptacle loaded with solidflowable material in an operative material carried thereby will be movedrelative to said' receptacle toward the discharge Opening and dischargedtherefrom.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means mounting saidvibratory frame includes resilient means operatively connecting saidfixed frame to said vibratory frame and .said means for imparting saidvibratory material conveying movement to said vibratory frame includesat least two parallel rotatable shafts, a mass system supportedrespectively by each of said shafts, each system having its center ofgravity eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of its respectiveshaft and means rotating the two shafts at equal angular velocities andin opposite directions.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said fixed frame includesskid means adapted to slidingly engage said apparatus supportingsurface.

4. Ar apparatus comprising in combination: a fixed frame; a vibratoryframe; a generally rectangular horizontally elongated mobile receptaclehaving ground engaging wheels and a solid flowable material containingspace defined by a substantially flat bottom member and a plurality ofside members extending substantially perpendicularly of said bottommember, at least one of said side members at one end of said receptaclebeing adapted to move out of material confining 'relation with saidother members so as to provide a discharge Opening, said vibratory framehaving a floor being adapted to receive said receptacle in an operativedischarge position; means associated with said vibratory frame foretfecting movement of said one side member out of said materialconfining relation with said other members so as to provide saiddischarge Opening When said receptacle is in said operative dischargeposition; means adapted to engage the bottom of said receptacle andtransfer the weight of said receptacle and the material carried therebyfrom said ground engaging wheels to said vibratory frame; means forrestraining relative movement between said receptacle and said vibratoryframe when said receptacle is in said discharge position; meansresiliently mounting said vibratory frame on said fixed frame forvibratory material conveying movement relative thereto; means forimparting vibratory material conveying movement to said vibratory framewhereby said vibratory material conveying movement will be imparted tosaid receptacle and the solid flowable material carried thereby will bemoved relative to said respectacle and toward said discharge Opening soas to effect the discharge thereof.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said means for impartingsaid vibratory material conveying movement to said vibratory frameincludes at least two parallel rotatable shafts, a mass system supportedrespectively by each of said shafts, each system having its center ofgravity eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of its respectiveshaft and means rotating the two shafts at equal angular velocities andin opposite directions.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said fixed frame includesskid means adapted to slidingly engage the apparatus supporting surface.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examier UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Wallace 214-54 X Grass 214-58 Beler 214-46 McCallen214-63 X Oglesby 214 64.2 Erickson et al. 214-53 Clejan 214-38.8

8 FOREIGN PATENTS 477,305 6/ 1929 Germany. 804,087 5/ 1 951 Germany.294,955 12/1928 Great Britain. 461,848 2/1937 Great Britain.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Exam'ner.

1. AN APPARATUS FOR MOVING SOLID FLOWABLE MATERIAL CARRIED BY A MOBILEMATERIAL TRANSPORTING RECEPTACLE HAVING GROUNG ENGAGING WHEELS RELATIVETO SAID RECEPTACLE AND TOWARD A DISCHARGE OPENING PROVIDED AT ONE END OFSAID RECEPTACLE SO AS TO EFFECT THE DISCHARGE OF SAID MATERIAL THEREFROMWHILE MAINTAINING SAID RECEPTACLE SUBSTANTIALLY IN ITS OPERATIVEMATERIAL TRANSPORTING DISPOSITION RELATIVE TO THE APPARATUS SUPPORTINGSURFACE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A FIXED FRAME A VIBRATORY FRAME, SAIDVIBRATORY FRAME BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A RECEPTACLE LOADED WITH SOLIDFLOWABLE MATERIAL IN AN OPERATIVE DISCHARGE POSITION; ENGAGING MEANS FORENGAGING SAID RECEPTACLE AND TRANSFERRING THE WEIGHT THEREOF FROM SAIDGROUND ENGAGING WHEELS TO SAID VIBRATORY FRAME; MEANS FOR RESTRAININGRELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID RECEPTACLE AND SAID VIBRATORY FRAME WHENSAID RECEPTACLE IS IN SAID DISCHARGE POSITION; MEANS MOUNTING SAIDVIBRATORY FRAME ON SAID FIXED FRAME FOR VIBRATORY MATERIAL CONVEYINGMOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO; MEANS FOR IMPARTING VIBRATORY MATERIALCONVEYING MOVEMENT TO SAID VIBRATORY FRAME WHEREBY SAID VIBRATORYMATERIAL CONVEYING MOVEMENT WILL BE IMPARTED TO SAID RECEPTACLE AND SAIDMATERIAL CARRIED THEREBY WILL BE MOVED RELATIVE TO SAID RECEPTACLETOWARD THE DISCHARGE OPENING AND DISCHARGED THEREFROM.